Dr Steve Ivett co-founded Mt Barker Dentists in 1978. With his renowned gentle and caring nature, he’s formed close patient bonds and now cares for the third generation of families he treated back in the 70s. Children are especially drawn to ‘Dr Steve’.
Steve enjoys all aspects of dentistry from routine restorations, CAD CAM technology, endodontics, crown and bridge services, dentures and children dentistry. When it comes to wisdom tooth removal Stephen is a leader in the field, having over 35 years experience. Steve is also accredited at Mt Barker District Hospital to treat our patients under a general anaesthetic. He also offers intravenous sedation in the hospital or in our Mt Barker dental surgery.
Steve’s other loves
While providing the highest quality of dental care, his patients are always at ease listening to stories of his family, beloved Port Adelaide football team, latest fishing trip to Streaky Bay or the latest hills community news. He enjoys a good chat and sometimes feels that dentistry gets in the way of them! Steve is a life member of Zodiacs basketball club and has lived in the hills community since 1980.
Dr Julie Monis-Ivett co-founded Mt Barker Dentists in 1978. A highly trusted and experienced dentist, she enjoys long-term relationships with many patients who have been with her for around 40 years. She always goes above and beyond to ensure her patients needs are met while her attentiveness and sense of humour always leaves them with a smile on their face.
While Julie enjoys all aspects of dentistry from whitening teeth, routine restorations, CAD CAM technology, endodontics, implants, crown and bridge solutions, full mouth rebuilds and children dentistry, her special area of interest and training is in implant dentistry. She has mastered this specialty over 27 years and is highly skilled in complex implant and restorative treatment plans, proudly enjoying a 99% success rate.
Julie’s other loves and amazing feats
Julie has devoted many years to voluntary service in the community including philanthropy work with the Birthing Kit Foundation Australian, Zonta Adelaide Hills club, and Mission in Health Care & Development Australian Support Association. For more information visit Birthing Kit Foundation Australia and Mission in Health Care & Development Australian Support Association or have chat with her next time you’re in.
Just last year, confirmation of Julie’s exceptional extraction skills was at the fore while in the Congo in Central Africa, when she removed over 60 teeth in 30 patients in one day - without power, dental lights, running water, suction or X-rays. Only her skills, good sterilisation and extraction tools, and a head light made for a successful day.
Dr Jonathan Choong joined our team in 2015 after previously practicing in Adelaide. He started his academic career in medicine and after 3 years study decided that was not for him. He then completed a degree in Health Sciences and from there decided to become a dentist. Dentistry is a career choice he loves and he revels in the relationships he builds with his patients and his responsibility of providing quality dental care in Mt Barker. His desire for knowledge is reflected in the many postgraduate courses he attends.
Jonathan is a very caring and dedicated dentist respected and liked by his patients. Always very gentle and in tune with his patient’s needs, he has fitted in well with our dental family. Jonathan enjoys all aspects of dentistry, including teeth whitening, routine restorations, crowns and bridges, CAD CAM technology, endodontics, snore guards, night guards and especially working with children. His relaxed and friendly demeanour is received well by his patients.
Jonathan’s other loves
Jonathan is married and besotted with the arrival of his baby son Rory. He is into all aspects of fitness and often starts his day with a good yoga class. Eating is another passion.
David is a third-generation dentist who graduated from Adelaide University in 1991. After practicing in NSW and Victoria with the defence force, he moved back to Adelaide to practice privately and as a clinical dentist with the SA Dental Service, with emphasis on medically compromised patients and dentoalveolar surgical procedures.
David comes with a wealth of knowledge in all facets of dentistry and an ability to treat even the most anxious of patients. He has been a Senior Dentist supervising 5th-year undergraduate students and bridging overseas students. He was also a visiting dentist to various country hospitals.
David is married to Ali and they have four adult children. He has been on various church Elderships and Boards over the past 10 years, including Glorify Church Mount Barker, and has been involved with various children and youth programs for over 20 years.
David is a member of the Australian Dental Association.
Dr Katherine Rao is a highly skilled and experienced dentist who has been practicing in the beautiful Adelaide Hills since 2015. Katherine has a kind and caring nature and is known for providing comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages. As a family dentist, she enjoys working with children and is happy to work with anxious patients, putting them at ease with her gentle approach and non-judgmental attitude.
Katherine has completed further study in the areas of implants, same day crowns (Cerec restorations) and snore guards (mandibular advancement splints) for the management of sleep apnoea. This enables her to provide the latest treatments and techniques to her patients.
Katherine believes in educating her patients about their oral health, so they can make informed decisions about their treatment options. She takes great pride in building long-lasting relationships with her patients and is always happy to see them leave the practice with a smile.
In her free time, Katherine leads an active lifestyle. She enjoys trying out new coffee shops, and exploring wineries in the region.
Dr Jimin was born in South Korea, moved to Malaysia at the age of 16 then migrated to South Australia where she graduated with Bachelor of Dental Surgery Degree at University of Adelaide in the year of 2015.
After graduation, Dr Jimin started her dental career in the Riverland through various local towns including Remark, Berri, Loxton and Waikerie serving the local community for 8 years before she joined Mt Barker Dentists.
Her experience working in the Riverland allowed her to build a great rapport within the community and with many local patients. The positive transition she witnessed in their lives through improved oral health has been incredibly fulfilling, which was far beyond just addressing surface-level demands for instant fix. Dr Jimin finds that the most rewarding aspect in her profession is that she contributes to patients' general well-being and self-confidence.
Dr Jimin has years of experience in a diverse scope of general dentistry, and she is interested especially in aesthetic dentistry, occlusion, and the holistic treatment approach. She has attended numerous dental courses related to them.
Outside of dentistry, Jimin delights in drawing, crafts and her therapeutic times doing yoga, pilates and meditation.
Jimin is married to her best friend Ki who also works at MBD team as a dentist.
Dr Ki Hwan Kwon is a dedicated dentist with diverse background and a passion for delivering exceptional dental care. Born in Korea and raised in Malaysia, his journey has been enriched with cultural experiences that have shaped his approach to dentistry.
He earned his Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree at University of Adelaide. Then over the course of 8 years, he had served the communities of Port Augusta and the Riverland. His experiences allowed him to gain a comprehensive understanding of various facets of dentistry, from routine check-up and restorative work to more complex cases.
To further enhance his expertise and special interests in dental implants with years of experience in placing and replacing dental implants, he recently completed a Graduate Diploma in oral implantology. In addition to his Graduate Diploma, he enjoys attending courses to learn the most advanced and latest techniques and technologies of dental implants, so that he can ensure that his patients receive the highest standard of care available.
Apart from his dental profession, he is married to Jimin who also practices dentistry at Mt Barker Dentists and enjoys cooking delicious foods for his family and friends.
Ros joined Mt Barker Dentists in 1984 and has been a valued contributor and essential force in our practice for over 30 years. Her bubbly personality brightens the day for patients and staff, while her compassionate and caring demeanour makes our patients feel welcome and comfortable. Ros and her husband Kirk are now empty nesters after raising their daughters. They love living on Lake Alexandrina. Ros is loving being a grandmother to little Jack. It lights up her face to talk about his latest adventures.
Dental Assistant Team
Hollee, Kailah, Amy and Sarah are essential team members. Our dentists simply wouldn’t be able to provide the highest standard of Hills dental care without their tireless efforts and dedication. All have years of experience in dentistry, and their efficiency and commitment, and their compassion and care for our patients and dentists is essential in allowing us to offer the best dental care in Mt Barker.